Follower-plate for lubricant containers and the like



NOV-.-

1953! E.. Pf.. ssUNaDHZQLM 2660249@ @mmm-Bmw mm lmmcwm @@Nmmms: ANH um willed@ @will 21 129147/ Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES FOLLOWER-PLATE FOR LUBRICN'ET CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Edwin P. Sundholm, Albert City, Iowa Application April 2, 1947, Serial No. '738,900

3 Claims. l

The present invention relates to vendble dispensing containers for lubricant or the like and relates more particularly to sheet-metal 1ubricant-containers adapted to dispense the 1ubricant directly to a grease-gun or the like through quick-attachable and -detachable connections provided either adjacent the bottom or at the top of the container.

An object ol the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction for vendible dispensing lubricant-containers or the like. Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction for sheet-metal lubricant containers which are adapted to dispense their contents directly to grease guns or the like. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved follower-plate construction adapted for use particularly with relatively thin-walled sheet-metal containers for relatively viscous liduids or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

It has been suggested in the past to provide follower-plates for vendible containers, made of relatively thin sheet-metal and adapted to hold and dispense relatively large amounts (for eX- ample, le to 100 pounds) ci grease or other similar more or less viscous fluids directly into the tubular reservoirs or barrels of grease-guns or the like. Thus, my U. S. Patent 2,214,779, issued September 1'?, 1940, discloses and claims such a relatively thin-walled sheet-metal container having a follower-plate adapted to travel on the top surface oi the relatively viscous fluid. The follower-plate heretofore employed was constructed of metal or the like having approximately the same diameter as that of the inside of the container so that it tends to wipe the grease from the wall as it moves downward with the level of the grease (upon withdrawal of the grease into a grease gun or the like); the follower-plate insuring that substantially all of the grease is dispensed. That is, if no followerplate is used, there is a tendency for the grease to be sucked out from around the end of the dispensing opening and to leave a substantial amount of undispensable grease in the bottom of the container.

However, the follower-plates heretofore employed with these relatively thin-walled sheetmetal containers have not proven entirely satisfactory, during use. Thus, these sheet-metal walls, due to their thinness, are very apt to become dented or bulged inward or otherwise deformed from their true cylindrical configuration, during transportation or use. When such deformation occurs, the conventional metal follower-plate is prevented from moving downward beyond the dent or bulge or deformation and is thereby rendered inoperative.

According to the present invention I have perfected a new and improved follower-plate construction, especially or such thin-walled sheet-metal lubricant containers or the like which eliminates these disadvantages and which operates satisfactorily even though the container may be somewhat dented or bulged inward during transportation or use.

Generally speaking, the present invention comprehends a follower-plate for thin-walled sheet-nieta] lubricant containers or the like, which is constructed primarily ci sheet-metal but which is provided, at its outer periphery, with a ring or annulus of rubber or other resilient material, mounted upon the main sheetnietal portion of the follower-plate; the metal portion of the follower-plate terminating substantially radially short or the wall of the container, whereby it will pass such inward projections as might ordinarily occur during transportation or use or" the container, the resilient ring adapting itself to conform to the inward bulge or projection, thereby to permit the follower-plate to pass downward beyond said inward bulge or projection as the level of iluid drops.

The present invention further comprehends a follower-plate construction wherein its riser opening is provided with a. similar resilient ring or annulus adapted to make yielding contact with the riser or stand-pipe (forming part of containers having a top-dispensing-opening).

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure l represents a vertical cross-sectional View or one embodiment or the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary vertical 3 cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the construction of the followerplate of the present invention.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary view, partly in vertical cross-section and partly in elevation, showing a modified form of follower-plate installed within a container having a riser or dispensing stand-pipe.

Figure 4 represents a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the follower-plate of Figure 3.

Figure 5 represents a horizontal cross-sectional view generally along the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 'l represent fragmentary crosssectional views showing further modified forms of the follower-plate construction of the present invention.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a dispensing container of the general type disclosed in my Patent 2,214,779. As shown particularly in Figure 1, the container includes a generally cylindrical upright body of suitable diameter and height to provide the desired capacity and a bottom 2l having an opening 22 formed, preferably centrally, therein. The body (as well as the other structural parts of the container) may be formed of sheet metal, preferably sheet-steel such as is used for steel drums,

and of a suitable gauge according to the size of g the container. The thicknesses shown in the drawings are exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

The bottom 2l is preferably formed with a flange 23 of suitable depth to clear a transverse conduit 24 which extends from the opening 22 and is welded or otherwise secured to the under surface of the bottom 2| so as to form a continuous and closed passageway communicating with the interior of the container and extending to the flange 23; a suitable opening 25 being formed in the flange, in registration with the outer end of the conduit 24.

A socket 26 is fastened to the outside of the ange 23 and is provided with screw threads 2l adapted to make quick-attachable and detachable connection with the externally screwthreaded end of a grease gun barrel G.

The socket 2S is provided with an opening 28 which communicates with the opening 25 and the conduit 24 whereby the grease gun barrel will be in communication with the interior of the container when attached to the socket 26 so that outward movement of the handle of the grease gun will suck grease from the container and fill the barrel.

The container also includes a lid 29 which is frictionally fitted or crimped or otherwise fastened to the body 20.

A slight upward projection 30, containing a vent-opening 3l, is provided on the lid 29.

The follower-plate which is indicated generally by the reference character 32 is mounted within the body 20 and is provided with an upper projection 33 having an opening 34 therein. The projection 33 is slightly smaller than and is in registration with the projection 3D so that, when the container is first filled, the follower-plate 32 is in uppermost position within the body 20, as shown in dash-dot lines in Figure 1, with the projection 33 fitting Within the projection 3G and with a screw 35 extending through the openings 3| and 34 thereby to retain the followerplate 32 in uppermost position during shipment, etc. When the grease container is in use the 1 n lu fr screw 35 is removed so that the follower-plate 32 is free to move downward within the container as the level of grease drops, as shown in solid lines in Figure 1.

The follower-plate 32 includes a main central portion 36 which is of thin flat sheet metal or the like and which is slightly dished with an upwardly-spaced outwardly-extending annular ange 3'! formed integrally therewith.

An annular ring 38 of resilient rubber or synthetic plastic material or the like is mounted upon the flange 3l and extends radially outward therefrom; the bottom surface of the ring 33 being generally in the same plane as the bottom surface of the dished portion 36 as indicated particularly in Figure 2.

The rubber ring 38 in addition to extending radially outward from the flange 31, also extends upward, at an angle thereto, and is provided with a somewhat enlarged integrally formed annular bead 39 at the uppermost and outermost edge thereof.

As indicated particularly in Figure 2, the bead 39 is adapted to make contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical body 20 of the container.

The flange 31 of the main portion 3B of the follower-plate 32 is substantially spaced radially from the body 20 so that the relatively iniiexible portion 33 can clear any inward projection or indentation on the body 20 such as might occur during normal shipment or handling of the container.

It is obvious that when the rubber ring 38 encounters such an indentation 40 on the body 2Q, during downward movement of the followerplate 32, it will give or yield so as to pass over the indentation 40 and to permit uninterrupted downward movement of said followerplate. After the bead 39 has passed the indentation 40, the resilience of the ring 38 will move it back to its true circular configuration.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the follower-plate of the present invention is capable of moving downward within the body 29, as the level of grease drops, in spite of indentations on said body, and that no tilting or canting is required in order to permit the follower-plate to pass such projections. It is also apparent, that the resilience of the outer ring 38 will permit the follower-plate to move downward within the body 20 even though the body may be slightly out of round due to mishandling.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 there is shown another modification of the present invention which is adapted for use with a container having a top dispensing opening and a riser or stand-pipe 4I mounted therewithin, of the type disclosed generally in my co-pending application Serial No. 678,693, now abandoned. The riser 4l extends upward through the lid 29-a so that it can be rotated relative thereto. The uppermost end of the riser 4I is formed at an angle (for example to the main portion thereof and is provided with a screw-threaded socket 23-a having quickattachable and detachable connection to a grease gun barrel G. A cover 5l may be provided for the socket ZES-a; the cover being hinged adjacent the upper portion of the socket so that it automatically closes (to protect the socket from dust, dirt, etc.) when the grease gun barrel is disconnected and withdrawn. rThe riser il extends generally from the bottom 2 -a of the container and communicates with the socket 2li-a; a suitable check-valve (not shown) being provided adjacent the bottom of the riser to prevent the lubricant from flowing back into the body 2i) from the riser 4|.

The follower-plate 32-a is provided with a central opening 42 to accommodate the riser ill; an upwardly and radially inwardly directed annular ring 43 of rubber or synthetic plastic or other suitable resilient material being mounted upon an upwardly-spaced radially-inwardly-directed dang@ 4d formed on the dished sheet-metal portion 36-a of the follower-plate 32-a.

The lid ZQ-a may be provided with a pair of upward projections Sil-a, while the follower-plate 32-a may be provided with matching projections 33-a for the purpose of fastening the followerplate to the lid in the manner described hereinabove in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1.

As shown particularly in Figure 3, the inner ring 43 makes annular contact with the riser 4| while the` outer ring {iS-a makes contact with the body 2li-a; the outer ring 38-a yielding to permit the follower plate to pass inward projections or indentations, in the manner described hereinabove.

In Figure 6 there is shown a further modication of the follower-plate of the present invention wherein the bead i-b of the outer ring 38-b is provided with a ring 45 of spring metal or the like; the ring 45 being embedded within the bead 39-b and serving to provide additional resilience to ensure return of the bead to its true circular configuration, after passage beyond an internal projection.

In Figure 7 there is shown another modified form of outer ring 38-c 'whose cross-sectional conguration is more or less like an inverted V; contact with the body of the container being made by an outwardly and downwardly inclined outermost ange 45.

The novel follower-plate construction of the present invention is, as described above, particularly effective with relatively thin-walled sheetmetal containers or the like which are apt to be dented or distorted during shipment or use.

Inasmuch as the under surfaces of the rubber ring 38 and the main dished metal portion 3B of the follower-plate lie generally in the same plane, the follower-plate is capable of going all the way down Within the container until it strikes the bottomwall, thereby ensuring that substantially all of the grease is dispensed.

In addition, the wiping action of the resilient outer ring (as well as of the inner ring, in the case of a container having a riser) reduces the amount of undispensable grease as compared to that left by an ordinary all-metal follower-plate. |Ihis is particularly true where inner projections or indentations are formed on the body 20.

That is, as described in my Patent No. 2,214,779, an all-metal follower-plate is capable of passing beyond relatively slight indentations by tilting or canting from its normal horizontal position. During such tilting or canting a substantial portion of the periphery of the follower-plate is moved out of contact with the body of the container and remains out of contact until after the follower-plate has passed beyond the slight inner projection. It is apparent that this results in a substantial amount of the grease being left, unwiped, upon the wall of the container, and being more or less by-passed when the all-metal follower-plate tilts back to its normal horizontal position. In other words, during this tilting operation, an appreciable amount of the grease ends up above the lvl of the follower-plate instead of below the plate. This amount of grease cannot be dispensed from the container.

In the construction of the present invention, on the other hand, no tilting of the follower-plate is necessary to by-pass indentations and the resilience of the outer ring 33 keeps the ring in contact with the wall of the body 2i) so that very little, if any, grease is left unwiped upon the wall during downward movement of the followerplate.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

l. A follower plate for use with a generally cylindrical thin-Walled sheet-material lubricant container, said follower plate constructed and arranged to be disposed within the container and adapted to rest upon the lubricant therein and ywipingly to contact the inner cylindrical Wall of said container, said follower plate including a main body portion of relatively rigid thin sheetmaterial having a peripheral edge-zone flange, an outer peripheral ring of resilient material secured to said flange and flanking both sides thereof and extending at an angle to the plane of said flange on only one side of said body portion and terminating in a container-contacting periphery spaced radially outwardly beyond the periphery oi said flange, the under-surface of the ilanking portion of said ring being in substantially the same plane as the under-surface of said body-portion.

2. A follower plate for use with a generally cylindrical thin-walled sheet-material lubricant container, said follower plate constructed and arranged to be disposed within the container and adapted to rest upon the lubricant therein and wipingly to Contact the inner cylindrical lwall of said container, said follower plate including a main body portion of relatively rigid thin sheetmaterial having a peripheral edge-Zone flange, an outer peripheral ring of resilient material secured to said flange and flanking both sides thereof and extending at an angle to the plane of said flange on only one side of said body portion and terminatingv in a container-contacting periphery spaced radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said ilange, said ring having an enlarged annular bead at its outer containercontacting periphery, a resilient tensioned beadexpanding member formed integrally with said bead and constructed and arranged to urge said bead radially outwardly against the inner wall oi the container.

3. A follower plate for use with a generally cylindrical thin-walled sheet-material lubricant container, said follower plate constructed and arranged to be disposed within the container and adapted to rest upon the lubricant therein and wipingly to contact the inner cylindrical Wall of said container, said follower plate including a main body portion of relatively rigid thin sheetmaterial having a peripheral edge-zone flange, an outer peripheral ring of resilient material secured to said ange and iianking both sides thereof and extending at an angle to the plane of said flange on only one side of said body portion and terminating in. a containerQ-.qntaeting periphery spaced radiallyl outwardly beyond. the periphery 0f said flange, the under-sulffaee oit the, flanking portion ofA said ring being in substantially the saineplane asthe under-suriace of said bodyfpor-tion, said ring having an enlarged annu; lar bead at its outer container-.ooneaqting per-iphery, said bead including a resilient tensione@ beadexpanding member constructed and aijigangeci iso.A urge. said bead radially outwardly againstr the inner wall of the container.

EDWIN SI;Jl\T;1;3IIOLIVE` References. Cited in the. le. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 112,082. Shanemen et al- Feb.. 2.1,4 18'11 

